Beam me up

[thespaceopera]

[The weekly Shuffle doesn't happen quite as it should. No new passengers appear on the ships, and no message is sent in from the hosts. The usual day comes and goes without a stir.

And then, on the second day, another one of those surges of static comes in over the speakers, breaking apart for a voice in the background. It's Diamond, and she sounds too far away from the receiver. She also doesn't sound quite like herself-- her tone flat and cold. Disappointed.]

--I know. I can't. [A pause of empty air, before a short, decisive sigh.] ...Yes. Bring them in.

[A blip of lost time passes right after those words, before every passenger mysteriously wakes alone in their own unfamiliar room. They have never seen this room before, but those familiar with the Hospitality Deck of the Marsiva might recognize the style of decor. It sounds and smells the same as the host ship as well--clean and chrome--but this set of rooms have never been ventured into before.

Welcome back to the Marsiva, dear passengers.]

ooc info:
Happy belated birthday, Drift Fleet! This is the first official mingle for the Season Finale event. As always, this is very backtag friendly-- including the Hosts section below. Take a look at the event information, then jump in and enjoy!

Event information → Here!

Comments

[stefanged]

The intent's what matters, yeah. [He still lets out a guilty sigh - and although he does see Allen pocketing a hand, he's not sure why beyond "it must still be cold for him."]

You know the Fleet. Their taste tends to run in the exact opposite spectrum. [Gesturing towards some people watching Sharknado.] Why look for holy scripture when you've got every terrible movie out there?

[save_the_souls]

[Hey hey you don't bash the terrible movies Allen loves those things. And so, he'll very gently remind him as he glances at the book that Stefan was reading before]

Or books about teenage demigods?

[You're as bad as the rest of us Alesci.]

[stefanged]

[He lets out a small laugh, holding up a hand in defeat. Excuse you, his demigod book is way better on its own merits, but - it's not a battle he's willing to fight.]

Fair enough.

I just... I don't know, I was never much for movies growing up.

[save_the_souls]

[He offers a smile]

Mm...where I'm from, they'd only just been invented. But I got a bit hooked on them while I was in Paradisa.

[stefanged]

Seriously? They were everywhere back home--

[He blinks, staring at Allen as if he's just now realizing something from the first time...]

If movies were only just invented for you, that would mean you're from the early 20th century? Or uh, the turn of the 20th?

[save_the_souls]

[Ah...yes. That realization. He smiles sheepishly and scratches his cheek]

1899, actually.

[stefanged]

["You're kidding!" is what would've stumbled out of his mouth, if he hadn't stepped back like this was the earth-shattering piece of news it was. Stefan takes a couple of seconds, before he finally says--]

Wow.

Yeah, I... I wasn't even born until 1992. [Or 1847, when he feels like identifying more with Salvatore.]

[save_the_souls]

Ha...that's pretty common, actually. There were a lot of people from the 20th and 21st century in Paradisa too.

But really! People can come from any time period here.

[stefanged]

I figured. I've seen people from millenniums down the line, and of course, people from further back...

It's just, I would've never guessed you were from 1899.

[save_the_souls]

Ha- really?

Why not?

[stefanged]

I'm not sure.

[He shrugs, furrowing his brow as he thinks about it.]

Dumb assumptions, probably - unless it's obvious you're from a different point in time or a different planet, I don't think much about it.

[save_the_souls]

[He gives a little laugh]

I see. I guess next time I'll remember to wear a monocle.

[stefanged]

You should. Make it a little harder for us to get away with not thinking about it too much.

[He's totally laughing in return, and it's honestly the first real laugh he's had since he arrived, so he flashes Allen a grateful smile.] But seriously, don't. I wouldn't know where you'd even get one here.

[save_the_souls]

Oh, don't worry- getting one is easy. People from my time just always automatically have one!

See? [He gives a huge grin, and holds out his arms as activates his curse eye so a lens appears over his eye. Like a monocle] Ta-dah~!

[stefanged]

[Stefan blinks back surprise, before letting out a pretty loud groan (and if he listens closely, it may be the beginnings of a laugh he's struggling so hard to hold back).]

Allen... You can't just whip that out like some party trick.

If you're gonna go for it, you've gotta give it a hundred and ten percent.

[save_the_souls]

What? I thought it was pretty good!

And what do you mean a hundred and ten percent? It's not like I can summon a top hat!

[stefanged]

No, but...

[In the blink of an eye, Stefan's holding a mug of freshly brewed black tea.] If you're gonna take that stereotype to its full conclusion, you can do the next best thing.

[save_the_souls]

Whoa-!

[he laughs]

Talk about instant tea!

[stefanged]

Only one of my many superpowers.

[He's teasing, a little, as he holds it out for Allen.] You do like tea, right? I've got enough people married to coffee in my life.

[save_the_souls]

[He'll take the tea] Thanks.

And I do! I actually...well, it's not very British to say, but I'm a fan of both coffee and tea. Just depends on my mood.

[stefanged]

[He puts a hand over his heart, as if this is the most offensive thing he's heard in YEARS.]

I don't think we can be friends anymore, Allen. [Except, he's struggling to keep that dead serious poker face, and his eventual smile betrays the mood he's going for.] It makes sense. The only kind of coffee I've liked is the kind my family makes, but...

[He shrugs] I can't say I miss it much.